Ohio 2nd Blog

Democratic candidate Thor Jacobs was working the crowds this afternoon in Piketon. Hopefully somebody thought to take some pictures later on in the day at the rally in Cincinnati with Hackett.

ADDED: There it is.

Sounds like someone’s been messing with the Republican yard signs. Any photos? (via BSB)

I’ll give BizzyBlog credit, this is a good line:

Schmidt said McEwen’s “true home is in Virginia.”

“I know, because I have been sending him Christmas cards there for the past 15 years,” Schmidt said.

BUT, the real amazing thing reportedly said in Friday’s candidate’s forum was McEwen arguing that it was time for us to start withdrawing troops from Iraq. Heynow!

This just in from the Warren County Dems:

Paul Hackett joined an enthusiastic crowd of more than 50 volunteers at the Warren County Democratic party headquarters in Lebanon. After teams and precincts had been assigned, Paul addressed the crowd. He spoke of the importance of this grassroots effort to reach out to our fellow Democrats. And he challenged us to continue to strengthen our Party by building and organizing at the local and county level. And then we hit the streets! See attached pictures. Today was a huge success. Targeted precincts were canvassed, hundreds of Dems were touched personally for the first time in years. And dozens of those signed up to volunteer efforts for the coming Election season. Watch us grow in Southwest Ohio!

We had the fifty or so volunteers show up this morning at 8:30 and found that at least 70% had canvassing experience. Besides Paul and Suzi, 2nd District congressional candidates Jim Parker, Gabby Downey and Thor Jacobs showed up and not only wished us well, but contributed volunteers and joined in the canvass effort. 3rd District candidates Studebaker and Fierst also showed up and Fierst stayed and canvassed to the bitter end. State Central Committee candidates Steve Spraley and Maria Ferro canvassed and special thanks to Maria’s son Matt for taking the pictures.

We targeted 11 Precincts with high Democrat active voter counts that do not have a Precinct Captain. In those 11 precincts we have nearly 2000 Democrats. Teams of four were given their target precinct, walking lists, maps, a script and the DNC provided door hangar. Volunteers got additional literature appropriate to their State legislative district and were free to carry and distribute other candidates literature as well.

But this was not about a lit drop. My report from my targeted precinct:

Precinct # 5 in Franklin… 128 active Democrats in a middle class neighborhood. Small neat single family, duplex homes and apartment buildings in the central part of the city of Franklin. We arrived at a little after 10:00 and began knocking on doors. Found about 50% of the folks at home. We introduced ourselves by name and as Democrats who lived in Warren County. Our reason for calling on them was simple. This was an effort to reach out to our neighbors in a personal way, to ask them what they wanted the Democratic Party in Warren County, in Ohio, and nationally to address. We were not there to tell them what the Democratic Party had determined was good for them. We were there so the Democratic Party could find out.

You can imagine what we heard: Jobs, energy, gas prices, the war in Iraq, corruption. Education and how its funded, the environment. Jobs, living wages, immigration. Jobs. Healthcare. Jobs. At one house we were told that the person we were talking with had a brother who died fighting in Iraq. Guess what was her most important issue. We promised to take their messages back to Lebanon, to our local Party and candidates. We also promised to carry their messages to the state Party and candidates and to the national Democratic Party. We asked that they find a way to help us. Volunteer to take responsibility for communicating with the other Dems on their street through a phone tree. Or post a yard sign for a candidate or issue. Help us to canvass other neighborhoods. We got a very good response. Nearly 50 % of those asked responded with a commitment to help.

Four hours later, we had completed our canvass and headed back to the HQ in Lebanon. There we found other teams had reported similar results. We grabbed some lunch and “hotwashed” the mission as Major Hackett would say. Final tabulations are not in, but we know we have dozens of new volunteers; hundreds of Democrats that had not seen or heard from the Warren County Party in years, now had had a visit. We’ll follow up with calls, e-mails, post cards and more visits.

Chris, you know I firmly believe this is how we make our Party strong and responsive and relevant. Sure, today it was preaching to the choir. But we got stronger, better at doing the grunt work. Better at meeting and listening to our neighbors. As we grow our numbers, we will more quickly finish our missionary work among the already saved. Then we can reach out to our non aligned neighbors. Same strategy: “What’s important to you? What should a political party do to make your world better? If we decide to do those things, will you help us?”

It’s not a quick or easy fix. I am tired, exhausted. We all are. But it is satisfying work. We’re getting stronger. It’s worth every step.

That’s what it’s all about.

Democratic AG candidate Subodh Chandra has written a fiery editorial response to the Dispatch’s rational for endorsing his opponent Marc Dann.

(via BSB)

Clermont County Democratic Party Chair Dave Lane has sent out this message on the efforts on the Republican Party to stack the deck in the Clermont County election board:

(more…)

What gives?  This is absolutely hideous!!!  Men and women in our armed forces have fought and died to give us the basic freedoms we have today, one being the right to vote for the candidate of our choice, whom we feel will represent us best as our public servants. 

 It is absolutely unacceptable for this percentage to be so low!   I put the challenge to anyone who reads this blog and does not vote;  GO VOTE TUESDAY.  Exercise that right that many have fought and died for.  Choose the candidate who will do the right things for us.  And for those who will say “my vote really does not mean anything”  I saw BULL!  Every vote counts. 

Enough said…

My favorite Ohio politician has endorsed my favorite hopefully soon to be politician.

For those who may have not attended, this was an interesting forum. Melvin Dean sponsors this forum and tells the candidates NO BASHING each other. It is a forum for the candidates to introduce themselves to the area, both federal, state, county, and local candidates, and answer questions from the audience.

There were about 100 folks there last night.

Each candidate introduced themselves and then answered questions from the audience. The main buzz was of course over Congresswoman Schmidt and former congressman Bob McEwen. Even with Mr Dean saying no bashing Bob McEwen did bring up how Schmidt did get spanked by the OEC. I am surprised Mr. Dean did not stop him.

The enquirer today splashed it over the Section B headlines, ONLY about McEwen and Schmidt. I think they did a disservice to the other candidates there fromthe second district (Kraus, Constable, Wulsin, Sinnard, and Jacobs), plus the other local and statewide race candidates or representatives. But this was expected, as the Enquirer continues to forget to report any substantial information regarding the other two Repbulican candidates and the 5 Democratic candidates.

I had never heard the dems before. Jeff Sinnard did a respectable job, Victoria Wulsin was also respectable. However, the one that truely impressed me was Thor Jacobs. No BS, straight forward. I think if he wins the Democratic nod next Tuesday, he is going to give whomever is chosen on the Republican ticket a run for their money.

We are in the last days, and I expect the 2nd district to get nasty. McEwen and Schmidt are battling each other. Even thought Schmidt made a show of trying to have McEwen sign the clean campaign pledge at the Enquirer endorsement (Schmidt and Kraus signed it), she is now on the attack. I hope all the residents of the 2nd see this for the true Schmidt that is coming to light…say one thing and mean another.

BOY WILL I BE GLAD WHEN MAY 3rd is here.

To everyone, have a great weekend. Work the district hard and let’s do the right thing….GET OUT AND VOTE on May 2nd! There are men and women in harms way all around the world fighting to give us that right, and we should exercise it every chance we get.